Columbia University Facilities Minority-, Women- and Locally-Owned Construction Trades Management Certificate/Mentorship Program 2010 - 2011

Introduction Columbia University Facilities (CUF) is committed to enhancing labor force and contracting opportunities with the minority, women and local (MWL) community. CUF, working with contractors, seeks to ensure that contracts and subcontracts include bids from MWL contractors, professional service providers, vendors or suppliers. Additionally, we seek to ensure that major contracts/subcontracts employ minorities, women and local community members in the workforce. One of the ways in which CUF is working to build the MWL contracting opportunities is through a pilot mentoring program for small and medium-sized MWL construction trade firms. History In January 2008, Columbia University, in partnership with the New York CityDepartment of Small Business Services (SBS) embarked on a five-year pilot mentorship program for MWL businesses interested in working with Columbia University. The program was designed to provide the businesses with classroom training, one-on-one assistance, and contracting opportunities to help the companies achieve greater success in bidding and performing on larger, more complex projects. The first class, consisting of 22 MWL firms, agreed to participate in a focused program to enhance their overall company performance. Year one consisted of an academic overview of construction basics as well as limited bidding opportunities.

Columbia University and SBS officials join with the successful MWL Mentorship Program firms to celebrate the first year of the program and completion of the academic coursework.

As of March 2010, more than $7.4 million in construction work had been spent with the MWL mentee firms.

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The Program Each MWL mentorship class begins with between 20 – 25 firms. Over five years, Columbia’s goal is to admit at least 100 MWL firms into the mentorship program. Each class participates in the mentorship program for two years, gradually progressing through the academic phase to full integration into the Columbia University construction contracting system. Year One:  Completion of Certificate Program. A rigorous 90-hour certificate program administered by the Columbia University School of Continuing Education. Courses cover timely issues such as bonding and insurance, project scheduling, cost estimating, site safety, project close-out, marketing and human resources.  Introduction to Columbia Processes. As a large private, not-for-profit academic research institution, the construction needs of Columbia can be varied and precise. The mentee firms are introduced to the construction bidding process for the University and encouraged to develop contacts with various project managers and directors to assist them in their progress.  Feedback. Firms are provided feedback on their bidding performance to enhance the firms’ understanding of bidding management.  Technical Assistance. Through a unique partnership with New York City’s Small Business Services and the Columbia-Harlem Small Business Development Corporation, firms can receive one-on-one and small group technical assistance to strengthen the firms’ business practices. Networking. Firms are afforded exclusive networking opportunities with project managers within Columbia University and with some of the construction management firms working at Columbia.  Graduation Ceremony. Upon the successful completion of the academic year, the mentee firms participate in a special graduation ceremony. This ceremony honors the accomplishments of the program participants and provides the firms with additional networking opportunities. . Year Two:  Bidding Opportunities. After completing the academic program, mentee firms are offered the opportunity to bid on projects. When possible, firms will participate in exclusive bid opportunities reserved for mentee firms. In other cases, firms will be added to bid lists with other firms to compete on upcoming work at Columbia.  Networking. Individual firms continue to build their Columbia network and are introduced to other key industry leaders. 2

 Training and Technical Assistance. Mentee firms participate in special sessions with key industry leaders and Columbia officials to continue the enhancement of their individual organizations. Refresher Opportunity:  Refresher. Mentee firms have an opportunity to “audit” a Columbia Construction Certificate course as a refresher. This exclusive opportunity is for those who want to refresh their knowledge or to learn of any updates in the construction industry.  Mentor/Mentee Review. A project manager or specialist meets directly with the firm to review the mentee firm’s progress. Success is based not only on successful opportunities achieved with Columbia, but on the firm’s overall objectives and goals. Since no firm should rely solely on Columbia, it is important that the mentee firm have a healthy and diverse portfolio of business clients. Academics In 2009, the mentorship program was enhanced by the expertise of Columbia University’s School of Continuing Education. Building from their expertise in administering the Construction Management Master’s Degree program, the School of Continuing Education developed a certification program uniquely designed for MWL mentees. The year-long program administered by the School of Continuing Education provides an introduction to: Estimating Safety Project Scheduling Marketing and Communications Contracts Sustainability

Cost Accounting Insurance and Bonding Finance and Bank Accounting Human Resources Construction Law/Construction Disputes

Technical Assistance Through unique partnerships with the New York City Small Business Services (SBS) and the Columbia-Harlem Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the mentees have the opportunity to receive personalized technical assistance. • SBS has partnered with the University and provides technical assistance to those firms certified or seeking certification by SBS as a minority or woman-owned firm in the following areas:

Certification Application Questions Bidding & Cost Estimating for a

Certification Application Assistance Bidding & Cost Estimating – General 3

specific contract Selling to Government Connecting to the Private Sector Financing Assistance Online Marketing Basic Courses in General Marketing

Information Marketing to Government Buyers Bonding Assistance Proposal Writing Basic Courses in Business Planning Basic Courses in Navigating NYC Government

Basic Courses in QuickBooks • SBDC, administered by the Columbia Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, joined the efforts to expand and enhance the University’s technical assistance opportunities for the mentees. Through the SBDC mentees can receive assistance with: One-on-one counseling Loan Packaging Financial Statement Analysis Practical Cash Flow and Profit/Loss Projections Finance and Accounting

Business Plan Assessment and Development SBA Loan Assistance Procurement Resources Marketing

Eligibility Small and medium sized firms are eligible to apply for the mentorship program. Both union and non-union firms are eligible to apply. Bidding opportunities will be presented to all small firms and medium sized firms; union and non-union firms. In all cases, union firms will compete against union firms, and non-union firms will compete against non-union firms. For purposes of the mentoring program, firm sizes are defined as follows: ⇒ Small-sized firms – those with a bidding capability of less than $100,000; and ⇒ Medium-sized firms – those with a bidding capability of between $100,000 - $1,000,000

Eligibility Criteria To be considered for the mentoring program, a firm must: 1. Be classified as either a small or medium-sized firm based upon previous years gross receipts and verified with tax returns 2. Have a bonding capacity of no more than $1 million (with no minimum requirement)

3. Be certified as a minority- or woman- owned business enterprise by a recognized governmental and quasi-governmental agency; or maintain a primary business address or have a significant administrative business presence in one of the zip codes as listed below

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The following Federal, State and City certifications are acceptable: • • • • • • • •

New York City Department of Small Business Services New York Empire State Development Corporation New York City School Construction Authority The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Women Presidents Educational Organization NY/NJ Minority Supplier Development Council Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Other certifying entities as determined by the University.

4. Be committed to a 2-year program which will include attending a mandatory orientation and other regularly scheduled classes, meetings and events 5. Be fluent in English

Locally-recognized Zip Codes As a Harlem-based institution, the University principally defines its “local” catchment area as those communities located in the zip codes that contain, in whole or in part, the census tracks of the federally mandated New York Empowerment Zone (NYEZ). In Manhattan, this area is defined as Upper Manhattanor all points north of 96th Street, river to river. The zip codes of Upper Manhattan are: 10025, 10026, 10027, 10029, 10030, 10031, 10032, 10033, 10034, 10035, 10037, 10039 and 10040. In the Bronx, this area is defined by the following zip codes: 10451, 10454, 10455 and 10474. Contractors are deemed to be local if they maintain a primary business address or have a significant administrative business presencein one of these zip codes. Questions? If you’d like more information or if you want to apply to the MWL mentorship program, email the Columbia University Facilities’ Construction Business Services and Communications Department at [email protected]

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